Difluoroamino compounds

ABSTRACT

Oxidant compounds containing as a functional group three difluoramino groups attached to the same carbon atom are described; to this functional group are attached either directly or through an -O- or -NH- linking radical various aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic moieties. The compounds are strong oxidants.

United States Patent [191 Koshar et a1.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 DIFLUOROAMINO COMPOUNDS Inventors: Robert J. Koshar, Lincoln Township, Washington County; Donald R. Husted, St. Paul; Charles D. Wright, White Bear Lake; Joseph La Mar Zollinger, Woodbury Township, Washington County, all

of Minn.

Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn.

Filed: May 4, 1972 Appl. No.: 250,196

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 425,113, Jan. 8, 1965, Pat. No. 3,758,555v

U.S. C1 260/584 C; 149/36; 149/l09.4; 260/308 D; 260/319.1; 260/326.5 J;

260/326.5 L; 260/347.7; 260/348 R; 260/465 E; 260/476 R; 260/486 R; 260/486 H; 260/487; 260/488 R; 260/561 H; 260/556 AR; 260/566 B; 260/570.5 R; 260/583 NH;

260/584 R Int. Cl. C07c 87/22; C07c 101/00 Field of Search 260/482, 534, 561, 583,

260/584, 349, 453 AL, 465.5 R, 482 R, 482 C, 534 M, 561 A, 583 NH, 584 R, 584 C, 260/308 D, 319.1, 326.5 J, 347 R, 348 R, 260/465 E, 476 R, 486 R, 487, 488 R, 260/553 R, 556 AR, 561 H, 556 B, 260/570.5 R

Primary Examiner-Leland A. Sebastian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A1exander, Sell, Steldt & DeLaHunt 571 ABSTRACT Oxidant compounds containing as a functional group three difluoramino groups attached to the same carbon atom are described; to this functional group are attached either directly or through an -O or NH linking radical various aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic moieties. The compounds are strong oxidants.

4 Claims, No Drawings DIFLUOROAMINO COMPOUNDS This is a division of application Ser. No. 425,113, filed Jan. 8, 1965, now US. Pat. No. 3,758,555.

This invention relates to a new class of fluorine-containing organic compounds and more particularly to organic compounds containing the novel tris(difluoramino)methyl functional group and to methods for their synthesis.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and useful class of fluorine-containing compounds and methods for their synthesis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new class of organic oxidants having in common at least one functional group consisting of three difiuoramine groups attached to a single carbon atom.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures made hereinafter.

In accordance with the above and other objects of this invention there has been discovered a new class of difluoramino compounds. The new class of compounds can be represented by the formula:

wherein R, is an organic radical, which is free from reducing substituents and which is bonded to the carbon atom of the tris(difluoramino)methyl moiety. Thus, the tris(difluoramino )methyl group is covalently bonded to the remainder of the molecule.

Hereinafter, the new functional group is referred to as the tris(difluoramino)methyl group, and the compounds of the invention are designed generally as the tris(difluoramino)methyl compounds.

A useful subgroup of this invention is that represented by the formula wherein Z is an n-valent organic radical, having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, of the group consisting of monovalentradicals including alkyl, aryl, polyhaloalkyl, polyhaloaryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, polyhaloalkaryl and polyhaloaralkyl; divalent radicals including alkylene, polyhaloalkylene, arylene, alkylarylene, polyhaloalkylarylene, arylalkylene, arylpolyhaloalkylene; multivalent radicals such as neopentanetetrayl, 1,2,2- propanetriyl and the like and heterocyclic group-containing radicals. Substituents on these radicals are subject to the requirements set forth above. They are attached indirectly to the tris(difluoramino)methyl functional group by means of a linking group X, such as O, NH,

if I ll OO, N(alkyl)- (wherein the alkyl is a lower alkyl such as CH and C H N=N,

and -CH=NO-; and nis an integer equal to the valency of Z and is preferred to be from 1 to 4.

Several methods for the synthesis of the tris(difluoramino)methyl compounds have been discovered. Broadly speaking, these methods include:

Method 1 The nucleophilic addition of a compound containing ZereWitinoff-active hydrogen to perfluoroguanidine, (F N) C=NF, followed by fluorination of the resulting monofluoramino (NFH) containing adduct.

NF F N solvent and C=NF R-[-XH],, camyst R XC-NFH z optional I n and NF NF R XC-NFH R XC-NF n HF solvent F optional NF In the above formulas, R -[XH],, represents broadly an organic or compound containing Zerewitinoffactive hydrogen, wherein X is a linking radical which includes O, or NH, R is hydrogen or an nvalent radical of widely varying nature; and n equals the valency of R When R E-XHL, is organic such as the general class of alcohols, oximes, amines and active methylene compounds, R can be a monovalent radical, for example, alkyl, polyhaloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl and heterocyclic radicals. R can also be a divalent or multivalent radical such as ethylene, pentamethylene, phenylene, neopentanetetrayl, 1,2,3-propanetriyl, and in such cases R fXHL, contains more than one active hydrogen atom indirectly attached to R by means of more than one linking X group. The compound containing active hydrogen may also be polymeric, e.g., such as polyvinyl alcohol.

Synthesis Method 1 is very general and involves two steps. The first step requires the addition of the desired compound, R {XH],,, containing active hydrogen, to the double bond in perfluoroguanidine to give adducts containing monofluoramino (NFH) groups. This method and other methods for the synthesis of the intermediate monofluoramino compounds are disclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 404,206 filed Oct. 14, l964, now abandoned.

The addition reaction is carried out in the range of about 1 50 to C. depending upon the reactivity of the active hydrogen-containing intermediate compound and the stability of the adduct. Since the addition is ionic in nature, polar solvents such as acetonitrile, trifluoroethanol, nitromethane, ethyl acetate, methyl formate, sulfolane, dimethyl ether and polyethers can be used to advantage, but their use is not absolutely necessary. Water is generally to be avoided during the addition reaction.

When the compound containing active hydrogen is weakly nucleophilic, basic catalysts such as urea and N,N-dimethylurea, triethylamine, sodium cyanide and the like can be used to promote the addition reaction, provided that such catalysts do not cause the complete decomposition of the monofluoramino-containing adduct, which can vary in stability. Some of these adducts, for example, can be isolated as solids, liquids or gases; others are unstable at room temperature and evolve HNf to form the trifluoroformamidino compounds containing the functional group, C(NF )=NF. The trifluoroforrnamidino compounds are more fully described in the copending application Ser. No. 351,581 filed Mar. 6, 1964, now US. Pat. No. 3,726,903, and they can be used as intermediates to tris(difluoramino)methyl compounds as described hereinafter. When the compound containing active hydrogen is strongly nucleophilic, such as in the case of certain amines, the addition is exothermic and cooling and dilution with appropriate solvents are advantageous. When the adduct formed is unstable as, for example, at room temperature, it need not be isolated but can be stored under refrigeration with or without solvent and treated directly by means of fluorination to give the desired tris(difluoramino)methyl compound.

The second step of synthesis Method 1 involves the replacement of the hydrogen atom of the NFH group of the monofluoramino-containing adduct with fluorine. This is usually readily accomplished with elemental fluorine even at low temperatures with very dilute concentrations of fluorine. Because of the ease of fluorination of the NFH group, selective fluorination to a difluoramino group without fluorination of the attached radical, R is possible. The direct fluorination process can be conducted by a variety of methods such as the contact of elemental fluorine with a stationary or agitated bed of the said adduct or by the passage of fluorine through a solution or suspension of the said adduct. Fluorinations may be carried out under essentially atmospheric pressure using a flow system or a closed system, wherein fluorine may be recirculated, and where pressures greater than one atmosphere may be employed. Elemental fluorine is introduced as a gas either in dilute form, premixed with an inert gaseous diluent such as nitrogen or helium, or in relatively pure form. Very low concentrations of fluorine (as low as about 3 volume percent) can be used. Since reactions of fluorine are generally exothermic, the usual provisions for dissipation of heat and control of the concentration of fluorine are made. It is of course required that the reactor be composed of materials known to be inert toward fluorine under ordinary conditions such as copper, monel and the like.

The use of liquid diluents is advantageous'for control of the heat of reaction and for minimizing fragmentation during the fluorination. Liquid diluents which are used include non-polar polyhalogenated compositions, inert toward fluorine under ordinary conditions, such as, for example, trichlorofiuoromethane, perfluorooctane, perfluorocyclobutane, perfluorotributylamine and the like as well as polar, less inert diluents such as acetonitrile, tn'fluoroethanol, nitromethane and the like. The polar diluents may react at least to some extent with fluorine under ordinary conditions, but in most cases they are less reactive toward fluorine than the -NFH group of the said adduct and their use is particularly advantageous for fluorinations conducted at low temperatures with low concentration of fluorine.

Fluorination in this process is preferably carried out at temperatures in the range of about to 50C., as required by the intermediates and final products.

The tris(difluoramino)methyl compound product can be collected in cold traps during the fluorination process, or caused to remain as a residue in the reactor, or in solution when liquid diluents are used. When the desired tris(difluoramino)methyl compound is volatile and is entrained in the effluent gas stream, the hydrogen fluoride resulting from fluorination can be removed by passing the effluent gas through a hydrogen fluoride acceptor, such as a chamber containing sodium fluoride pellets or the like, usually maintained at ambient temperature. It is to be noted that the temperature of said chamber, the residence interval of the effluent in the chamber and the type of hydrogen fluoride acceptor, sometimes negatively influence the production of the desired tris(difluoramino)methyl compound. Furthermore, the use of such a chamber can cause fluorination of the attached radical, R, to give additional compounds of this invention.

The fluorination process can also be employed to introduce one, two or more fluorine atoms into the radical attached to the tris(difluoramino)methyl moiety if so desired to give additional useful compounds of this invention. In many cases several tris( difluoramino)methyl compounds differing in the amount of fluorine they contain are produced by a single fluorination of the NFH containing adduct.

The scope of the above method of preparation is very broad. The radical, R, can contain many other substituents of the most varied nature consistant with the limitations set forth hereinabove. Thus R can consist of a homogeneous or heterogeneous carbon chain, which can contain carbon atoms connected by, for example, oxygen, nitrogen, silicon, sulfur, boron and the like. Likewise R can have functional substituents such as halogeno, cyano, nitro, carboxy, keto and like groups.

The tris(difluoramino)methyl substituted compounds of the invention can be gases, liquids or solids under ordinary conditions. They range from highly volatile substances boiling as low as about 0C. to liquids or solids having little volatility. All of the compounds are oxidants; their oxidizing properties are indicated by the fact that they react with potassium iodide solutions, such as a solution of potassium iodide in aqueous acetonitrile, to liberate iodine.

The compounds of this invention can be isolated and purified by several techniques. In the case of gases or liquids boiling up to about 200C, they can be purified by distillation; utmost caution is employed, especially with large amounts and when the highly oxidizing tris(- difluoramino)methyl moiety represents a large proportion of the molecule. They can also be purified by gasliquid chromatography, in which high boiling nonreactive liquids, solids or polymers on an inert solid support (e.g., diatomaceous earth or firebrick) are used as the stationary phase. In the case of solids, the tris( difluoramino)methyl compounds can be purified by recrystallization, solvent extraction, sublimation, solidliquid absorption column chromatography and other related techniques.

Care must be used in the selection of solvents for the procedures described above so as to avoid reaction with, or decomposition of, the very reactive tris- 5 difluoramino )methyl moiety. in general, anhydrous conditions are preferably maintained in handling these compounds, although this is not always necessary. Suitable solvents include trichlorofluoromethane, benzene,

hexene, chloroform, ethylacetate, trifluoroethanol, diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, carbon tetrachloride, acetic acid, methanol and the like. Solvents which must be used with extreme care and usually avoided include strongly basic or reducing media such as liquid ammonia, hydrazine, alcoholic alkali, aqueous iodide solu tions and the like. i

The tris(difluoramino)methyl group of the compounds of this invention can be characterized by infrared absorptions in the region of about 9.5 to 11.5 microns. These are usually complex and broad and are associated with the difluoramino groups. The intensities of these absorptions can vary widely depending on the characteristics of the attached radical. Absorptions characteristic of the attached radical, particularly its functional groups such as various carbon-carbon unsaturations, carbon-nitrogen unsaturations, carbon-oxygen unsaturations and the like having absorptions particularly between about 2 to 8.5 microns, are readily distinguished and do not interfere with the absorptions due to the tris(difluoramino)methyl group.

Fluorine and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic measurements also serve to identify the described compounds. Various types of fluorine-containing groups in the molecule can be distinguished by their shielding values expressed in 4) units, employing CFCl as the reference compound as described by G. Filipovich and G. V. D. Tiers (U. Phys. Chem, Vol. 63, pp. 761-762, 1959); the values defined therein are herein termed q) values. Likewise, various types of hydrogen-containing groups of the radical attached to the tris(difluoramino)methyl moiety can be distin guished by their shielding values expressed simply as when tetramethylsilane is employed as reference as described by G. V. D. Tiers (J. Phys. Chem., Vol. 62, p. 1151, 1958).

The tris(difluoramino)methyl functional group of the compounds of this invention usually exhibits a single, sometimes broad, peak at a shielding value in the re gion of about l to 60 5 and more usually in the region of to d) which is due to its six fluorine atoms, each attached to nitrogen. Compounds having more than one tris(difluoramino) functional group in the molecule can exhibit more than one absorption eak.

p The compounds of this invention are oxidants useful as bleaching agents, explosive ingredients, rocket fuel ingredients, pyrotechnic ingredients and chemical intermediates. In general, the compounds containing the tris(difluoramino)methyl functional group in a high proportion relative to the molecular weight of the remainder of the compound are especially useful for rocket propellants or-explosives, whereas those compounds containing the tris(difluoramino )methyl group in a low proportion relative to the remainder of the compound are especially useful as bleaching agents. Oxidizing groups which contain oxygen can be present in the molecule with the tris(difluoramino)methyl group and such compounds can be exceptionally highenergy monopropellants, such as (F N) COCH CH NH CI"O Such ionic solids are of special utility in the formulation of very high energy solid rocket propellants.

Many of the compounds of the invention require safety equipment and special techniques for handling since they are toxic and can be exploded when subjected to impact, rapid cooling or heating. Generally speaking, ordinary laboratory hoods equipped with A to /2 inch plastic shields provide a safe working area when about 1 gram of any of the most energetic compounds such as tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane is manipulated, reacted, tested, stored, etc. Protective clothing for the operator, such as leather jacket, gloves, face shield and ear plugs, is recommended. Large quantities of these chemicals should be handled with remote manipulators.

When in pure or highly concentrated form, certain compounds of the invention and their precursors have a higher tendency to explode when undergoing phase changes. Therefore, the use of a non-flammable slush bath such as a l 11C. bath prepared by mixing liquid nitrogen with trichlorofluoromethane is recommended when said compound is volatile and is manipulated in gas transfer systems, since at such temperatures the volatile compounds of the invention are condensed to liquids but are not frozen.

The following examples, in which all parts are by weight and percentages are weight/volume unless otherwise specified, will more specifically illustrate the compounds of the invention and the processes for their production. Certain commercially available fluorochemical compositions are identified by trademark names therein as follows: Kel-F grease and Kel-F oil 8126 are low molecular weight poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene); FX-45 is a fluorocarbon liquid boiling in the range of about 80l20C. at one mm.; FC-43 is predominantly perfluorotributyl amine and FC-75 is a fluorochemical liquid boiling at about C. SE-30 is a silicone gum rubber; LSX-3-0295 is a fluorosilicone gum rubber and P's-1265 is a polyfluorosiloxane.

EXAMPLE 1 Ammeline (1.5 g.) is spread onto a 2 inch by 12 inch copper tray which is placed in a 1.5 liter horizontal cylindrical copper reactor (Reactor A). The reactor is fitted with a gas inlet for fluorine and/ or nitrogen at one end and an effluent gas outlet at the other end. The gas outlet is connected serially to an iron tube filled with sodium fluoride pellets which is maintained at room temperature (temperatures up to 100C. can be used and are often more efficient for removing hydrogen fluoride from the efiluent), followed by a borosilicate glass trap which is cooled with liquid air and then finally a vent line. The reactor is first flushed with nitrogen to expel air and is then cooled by means of a bath maintained at l 5C. The nitrogen flow is continued until the temperature inside of the reactor near the copper tray is about 3C. Gaseous fluorine, diluted with nitrogen, is then introduced into the reactor at a volume concentration of 6 percent until a total of about 0.15 mole of fluorine is delivered over a period of 7 hours. After the completion of the addition of fluorine, the reactor is allowed to warm to room temperature and is flushed with nitrogen during this period. The volatile fluorination products are collected in the trap cooled with liquid air, while solid and liquid products having low volatility remain in the reactor.

The trap is closed, evacuated to remove nitrogen and the contents are then allowed to warm to room temperature and are transferred under vacuum into a 15 ml. tube which is cooled to about l40C. and is attached to a vacuum manifold. The tube and contents are then allowed to warm gradually to about 78C. and then maintained at this temperature by means of a trichloroethylene-dry ice slush bath. The more volatile components (7.8 millimoles) which expand into a volume of 0.12 liter are composed of products such as carbonyl fluoride, nitrogen trifluoride and tetrafluoromethane and are bled off intermittently until a final vapor pressure of about 40 mm. Hg (in a volume of 0.12 liter) remains above the liquid in the tube. The residue, which amounts to a total of about 1.1 grams, is then allowed to warm gradually to 25C. and the volatile fraction (Fraction I) is expanded into a O. 12 liter manifold and is condensed into a storage vessel until a vapor pressure of about 60 mm. Hg remains above a small amount of a high boiling liquid residue in the tube. Fraction I amounts to about 0.7 ml. of liquid when measured at 78C. and contains tris(difluoramino)- fluoromethane, (F N) CF, as well as CF (NF (F N) C=NF, CF NFCF( NF and various NF-containing compounds boiling in the range of about 30 to +30C.

About 30 percent (area percent by chromatography) of Fraction I is found to be tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane and can be separated by gas-liquid chromatography employing, for example, a 24 foot, 3/ 8 inch column composed of 33 percent by weight of the fluorochemical, FX-45, on acid washed Chromasorb F (a commercially available diatomaceous silica product), mesh 30/60. The procedure is carried out at room temperature with helium as the carrier gas. The retention value, designated as T for tris( difluoramino)f1uoromethane under the above conditions is 134 relative to trichlorofluoromethane as a standard of 100.

Retention values, T are obtained by the equation (retention time of component) (retention time of air) T R (retention time of standard) (retention time of air) Tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane and other NF compounds can be isolated by chromatography employing various other column packings such as 33 percent by weight of the fluorochemical, FC-43, on Chromasorb P at a column temperature of about C.

If desired, Fraction I can be treated with aqueous alkali to give a mixture having fewer components and which is enriched with tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane, thus providing a mixture which can be more readily separated by chromatography or distillation. As an example of this treatment, 1.2 grams of Fraction I is mixed with nitrogen and allowed to pass through a borosilicate glass bubbler containing 50 ml. of 0.13 N aqueous sodium hydroxide. The bubbler is equipped with a dispersion disc at the bottom and a drying tube filled with anhydrous CaSO at the outlet followed by a liquid air cooled trap open to the atmosphere. The product (about 0.7 g.) in the trap is found to contain mainly CF NF and CF(NF in the ratio of 3:2 as well as a small amount of l,l-bis(difluoramino)-2- fluoro-perfluoro-Z-azapropane, having the structure CF NFCF(NF The compound CF NFCF(NF boils at about 30C. and has fluorine n.m.r. d: values at 23.1 (NF 67.3 (C s), 89.9 (NF) and 132.4 (CF) in the ratio of about 4:3:111, respectively.

Calculated for C F N N, 18.1; F,

Found:

Tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane is a colorless gas which has a melting point of 137 to 132C., and a boiling point of 5 .6 1C. Its infrared spectrum consists of a strong absorption band at 7.82 microns in the region for CF stretching and a complex, strong and broad absorption between 10 microns and 11.5 microns attributed to the NF stretching. The fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectrum for tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane exhibits a peak at 23.3 assigned to the fluorine atoms of the NF groups and a sharp peak at 138.7 (1) due to the fluorine atom of the CF. The NF to CF area ratio is approximately six to one.

C, 6.42; N, 22.47; F, 71.11; molecular weight, 187.

C. 6.5; N, 22.1; F, 71.8; molecular weight, 183.

Analysis. Calculated for CN -,F;:

Found:

(F N) CF can also be identified by its characteristic mass spectrum. Tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane, whether in pure state or in mixtures, must be handled and stored with great care, even in very small amounts, and preferably behind a barricade.

is prepared by the fluorination of the adduct of perfluoroguanidine and methyl glycolate.

Into a dry 10 ml. borosilicate glass reactor (conveniently fitted with a polytetrafluoroethylene needle valve) are placed 0.52 ml. (7.4 millimoles) of methyl glycolate, 3 ml. of dry acetonitrile and 0.02 g. of urea. The reactor is cooled to l 10C., and further charged under vacuum with 1.2 g. (7.9 millimoles) of perfluoroguanidine. The valve is closed and the reaction mixture is allowed to warm gradually to room temperature. After standing overnight, the mixture appears as a clear, nearly homogeneous solution. The adduct may be obtained in high purity by removal of solvent and any perfluoroguanidine under reduced pressure.

The adduct is then dissolved in 7 ml. of dry acetonitrile and fluorinated in a 50 ml. reactor made of polytrichlorofluoroethylene. A mixture of 5 volume percent of fluorine in nitrogen is passed through the solution of 0C. until a total of millimoles of fluorine has been delivered over a period of 7 hours. The solution and the reactor are purged with nitrogen and the volatile components are removed under vacuum. Fluorine n.m.r. and infrared analyses of the liquid residue having a vapor pressure of less than 2 mm. Hg at 25C. indicate a good conversion to methyl tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate. The ester is purified by the use of column chromatography employing silica gel as the absorbent and chloroform as the eluent, or by gas-liquid chromatography employing a column composed of 20 percent by weight of SE-3O on Celite (diatomaceous earth), at 80C. Its retention value (T relative to tetrachloroethylene as the standard of 100 is about 218 on a 3 meter, 4 inch SE-30 column.

Methyl tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate is a high boiling, colorless liquid having a vapor pressure of less than about 2 mm. Hg at 25C. Its fluorine n.m.r. spectrum exhibits a peak at 23.1 and its proton n.m.r. spectrum exhibits a peak at about 5.141' due to CH and another peak at 6.22 due to CH The infrared spectrum of the compound contains a characteristic carbonyl absorption at 5.6 microns, as well as a broad complex absorption in the 10.0 to l 1.5 micron region.

Analysis. Calculated for C H F N O C, 18.7; F, 44.3. Found: C, 18.6; F, 44.0

EXAMPLE 3 A solution of 0.7 mmole. of the adduct of perfluoroguanidine and methyl glycolate,

EXAMPLE 4 Methoxybis(difluoramino)fluoroaminomethane (CH OC(NF NFH) is prepared by the reaction of 2.7 millimoles of methanol with 3.0 millimoles of perfluoroguanidine in a 10 ml. sealed borosilicate glass reactor. The reaction mixture is kept at room temperature for hours. Volatile products which are formed are removed by exposing the contents of the reactor to reduced pressure by connecting it to a vacuum manifold, until a residue having a vapor pressure of about 15 mm. Hg at C. remains. The residue is nearly pure CH OC(NF NFH.

About 0.8 g. (4.4 millimoles) of methoxybis(difluoramino)fluoroaminomethane is placed in a copper dish in a 0.4 liter copper re actor. The reactor is purged with nitrogen and cooled to C. Fluorine in concentration of 2.7 volume percent in nitrogen is allowed to pass over the sample for 3 hours until about millimoles of fluorine is delivered. During fluorination, the effluent gas stream is allowed to pass through about 10 inches of copper tubing and then into a trap cooled with liquid air. The system is then purged with nitrogen while warming to room temperature.

The trap contains methoxytris(difluoramino)methane, CH OC( NF which can be purified by gas-liquid chromatography employing a 3 meter, /2 inch column of 20 percent by weight of LSX-3-0295 (a silicon rubber from Dow Coming) on acid washed Celite at 25C. (T =637 relative to CFCl as This tris(difluoramino)methyl compound is a liquid having a vapor pressure of about 70 mm. Hg at 25C.; its fluorine n.m.r. spectrum exhibits a peak at 22.2 4) and its proton n.m.r. spectrum exhibits a peak at about 5.87 1.

EXAMPLE 5 The fluorination process described in Example 4 is repeated with 0.55 millimole of CH OC(NF NFH using 4.3 volume percent of fluorine at 20C. over a period of 2 hours until a total of about 60 millimoles of fluorine is delivered. The effluent gas, however, is allowed to pass through an iron tube filled with sodium fluoride pellets which is maintained at 25C. and precedes the borosilicate collection trap. The product collected in the trap amounts to about 0.35 millimole and contains CH OC(NF CH FOC(NF and CHF OC(NF in the ratio of about 3:9:8, respectively. These products are separated from the mixture by chromatography using the abovementioned silicon gum rubber column.

Fluoromethoxy tris(difluoramino)methane, CH FOC(NF is a liquid which exhibits a fluorine n.m.r. peak at 23.5 (15 due to the NF groups and another at 149.3 (triplet) due to the fluorine attached to carbon in the ratio of about 6:1, respectively. A proton n.m.r. peak is found at 4.161'.

Difluoromethoxy tris(difluoramino)methane, CHF OC(NF similarly is a liquid exhibiting fluorine n.m.r. peaks at -24.5 5 due to the N1 groups and at 80.6 (doublet) due to the fluorine atoms attached to carbon. A proton n.m.r. peak is found at 3.041.

EXAMPLE 6 A solution containing 3 millimoles of HFNC(NF OCH CH OC(NF NFH (prepared by the reaction of ethylene glycol and perfluoroguanidine) in trifiuoroethanol is fluorinated using procedures similar to these described in Example 3. Fluorine in concentration of about 5 volume percent in nitrogen is passed through the solution for 5 hours at a temperature in the range of 23 to +25C. A total of about 3.5 millimoles of fluorine is used. The reaction mixture is subjected to chromatography at 100C. using a column composed of silicon gum rubber on diatomaceous earth. There is obtained l,2-bis[tris(difluoramino)methoxy]ethane, (F N) COCH CH OC( NF which is a high boiling liquid having a vapor pressure of less than 1 mm. Hg at room temperature. The retention value, T is about 342 relative to tetrachloroethylene. This tris(difluoramino)methyl compound exhibits n.m.r. peaks at about 2 l .l 4) due to the fluorine atoms of the NFg groups and at 5.3 1- due to the proton atoms of the CH groups. 1

EXAMPLE 7 The adduct, (Cl-l C=NOC(NF NFl-l is prepared by the reaction of acetomime and perfluoroguanidine. Using procedures similar to those described in Example 4, about 3.6 millimoles of this adduct are fluorinated at 35C. Fluorine in concentration of 3 volume percent in nitrogen is passed through the reactor for 5 hours until a total of about 54 millimoles of fluorine is introduced into the reactor. The reaction mixture is separated by chromatographic procedures. There is obtained O-tris(difluoramino)methylacetoxime, (CH C-=NOC(NF a high boiling liquid. It has a fluorine n.m.r. peak at about 24.4 qb due to all six of 12 the fluorine attached to nitrogen. Also obtained are several other tris(difluoramino)methyl compounds produced by fluorination of the methyl groups of the acetoxime residue. These include the compound (CH )(CH F)C=NOC(NF Additional examples of the synthesis of tris(difluoramino)methyl compounds by fluorination of monofluoramino (NFH) compounds are found in Table l. The starting materials are prepared by the nucleophilic reaction of perfluoroguanidine and compounds containing active hydrogen. Thus, the adduct of diethylketimine and perfluoroguanidine yields (C H C=NC(NF upon fluorination.

TABLE I-continued Tris( difluoramino )methyl "Polyvinyl alcohol modified polymer with random distribution of fluoramino methyl groups where m and n are integers.

EXAMPLE 52 The compound of the formula is prepared as follows: A gaseous mixture of 2 millimoles of ammonia and dimethylether (8 millimoles) is gradually added under reduced pressure to a stirred solution of 2 millimoles of perfluorocyanoformamidine, F NC(=NF)C E N, in about 1.5 ml. of liquid dimethylether at 110C. A 5 ml. borosilicate glass reactor can be used. The resulting mixture is stirred at -l10C. for 1 hour. The dimethyl ether and volatile components are removed at 63C. under vacuum until the vapor pressure above the residue in the reactor is less than about 2 mm. Hg. To the residue, which contains the desired product mixed with a small amount of dimethylether, is added 2.5 cc. of dry acetonitrile under vacuum. The mixture is then allowed to warm to about C. until a light yellow solution is formed. The product can be fluorinated without further purification or isolation. Conveniently, the mixture is stored at 7 8C. under a dry nitrogen atmosphere.

Fluorination of the acetonitrile solution of the adduct thus prepared is carried out in a borosilicate glass reactor at about 35C. Fluorine in concentration of 3 volume percent in nitrogen is passed through the solution at a metered constant rate from a 3.0 liter cylinder. After 6 hours, a total of 28.5 millimoles of fluorine is used. A tube filled with NaF pellets and maintained at 25C. can be used to remove hydrogen fluoride from the effluent gas. The volatile product (6.3 millimoles) is collected in two glass traps in series which are cooled with liquid oxygen. The progress of the fluorination can be followed by chromatographic analysis of the effluent gas stream. This analytical technique is conveniently used to determine when the fluorination is completed.

The product, which contains dimethyl ether, acetonitrile and tris(difluoramino)acetonitrile, is allowed to warm gradually to room temperature and is passed under vacuum through a trap cooled to --78C. followed by a trap cooled with liquid nitrogen. Chromatographic separation of the components of the liquid nitrogen cooled trap (4.4 millimoles), carried out on a 24 foot, /2 inch column composed of 33 percent by weight of the fluorochemical FX-45 on Chromasorb P at 25C., yields 1.1 millimoles of a mixture of (F N) C-C E N (T 287 with CFCl as standard) and a small amount of dimethyl ether. Additional purification is accomplished by using an 18 foot, A inch column composed of 33 percent by weight of the fluorochemical Kel-F oil 8126 on Chromasorb P at 25C. A high purity sample of 0.8 millimole of (F N) C-CN (T 118 with CFCl' as Standard) is obtained.

Tris(difluoramino)acetonitrile is a colorless liquid, has a vapor pressure of about 505 millimeters Hg at 23C. and boils at about 32C. Its infrared spectrum exhibits an absorption at 4.42 microns due to the C E N group and strong absorptions at about 10.3 microns, 10.6 microns and 11.0 microns which are assigned to the NF groups. Its fluorine n.m.r. spectrum exhibits a peak at 38.8 (1).

molecular weight, 193.

Analysis.

Found:

EXAMPLE 53 Procedures similar to those described in Example 52 can be used to prepare tetrakis(difluoramino)methane, C(NF and other tris(difluoramino)methy1 compounds. The adduct, (F N) C(NFH)NH is prepared by the addition of ammonia to perfluoroguanidine using dimethyl ether as solvent. The reaction proceeds rapidly even at C. The dimethyl ether is removed under vacuum until about less than one mm. Hg remains above the residual adduct at 63C. The adduct (0.02 mole) which is combined with some dimethyl ether is then dissolved in 40 ml. of trifluoroethanol, keeping the temperatures below about 25C. Fluorine in 20 volume percent concentration in nitrogen is passed through the stirred solution of the adduct at about 40C. for about 5 hours, until 0.30 mole of fluorine has been delivered. The product which collects in traps cooled with liquid air is separated into its various components by gas-liquid chromatography using, for example, an 18 foot, V2 inch column composed of 33 percent by weight of Kel-F oil 8126 on acid-washed 17 18 Chromasorb P, and operated at room temperature. pound is soluble in CFCl CF Cl CF CH OH, CH CN Tris(difluoramino)fluoromethane and tetrakis(diand N F fluoramino)methane are isolated. The retention value (T for C(NF is 160, using CFCl as a reference of 100. Other columns such as a column composed of 20 5 Analysis- Calculated for 3N4: 3 3;}; fif -g 220 percent by weight of the fluorine-containing silastic Found; 0,5,4; F, 68.2; FS-l265 (Dow Coming) on Chromasorb P can be molecular g n2l8 used. Tetrakis(difluoramino)methane is a colorless liquid which boils at about 41C. (391 mm. Hg vapor pressure at 24C,) d melts at 13 5 to -12 5C Its 10 Additional examples for the formation of the comfluorine n m.r. spectrum hibi a k at -29 3 d pounds of this invention by the fluorination of adducts to h i fl i atoms The i f d Spectrum f of ammonia and various trifluoroformamidino com- C(NF contains very strong abs ti t 1() 19 pounds are shown in Table II. Thus, for example the 10,51 and 10.96 microns d t N F groups d k adduct of ammonia and azotrifluoroformamidlne absorptions at 8.94, 9.47 and 14.76 microns. The com- 15 2 2) yields 2)3 N=N-C(NF upon fluorination.

TABLE II Trifluoroformamidino Ammonia Tris(difluoramino)- Ex. Compound Adduct methyl Compound FH 54 CF NFC(=NF)NF CF -,NFINF CF3NFC(NF2)3 NFH 55 CIC(=NF)NF ClC-NF, ClC(NF 56 CH -,C(=NF)NF CH CNF CH C(NF )a NFH EXAMPLE 65 The following examples demonstrate the conversion of tris(difluoramino)methyl compounds prepared by the above-described methods to give additional compounds of this invention.

To a 20 ml. borosilicate glass reaction flask containing 17.3 mg. of methyl tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate (0.67 mmole) dissolved in 3.0 ml. of absolute ethanol is added 3.0 ml. of a 3 percent aqueous solution of ammonia (5.3 mmole, 8-fold excess). The reaction mixture is swirled to mix and set aside for 12 hours at room temperature. The volatiles are removed under vacuum at 25C. to yield a residue of 15.3 milligrams of a white crystalline solid which is stable in air. The solid is found to be ammonium tris(difluoramino)-methoxyacetate,

1 N coc u domn.

which melts at about 85C. The fluorine n.m.r. spectrum in acetonitrile shows a single peak at 23.9 (15 due to NF A characteristic carbonyl absorption is observed at 6.3 microns in the infrared spedtrum, as well as a broad absorption between 10.0 and 11.2 microns due to NF.

EXAMPLE 66 Approximately 30 milligrams of ammonium tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate is placed in a tubular reaction flask attached to a high vacuum source and heated in a water bath at 5060C. for 3 hours. At the end of this time approximately half of the sample remains in the tube as a slightly discolored solid. In the upper cooler part of the tube both a white amorphous solid and a white-crystalline solid are seen to have sublimed away from the original sample. The crystalline solid is found to be tn's(difluoramino)methoxyacetamide,

melting at 90-91C. The carbonyl absorption in the infrared spectrum is found at 6.0 microns.

EXAMPLE 67 A K ion exchange resin is prepared by percolating a dilute methanolic solution of potassium hydroxide over a l X 5 cm. bed of an acidic ion exchange resin available under the designation AG 50W-X4, 100-200 mesh from BioRad Laboratory until the eluate is distinctly basic. Ammonium tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate prepared by the method of Example 65 is converted to potassium tris(difluoramino )methoxyacetate,

by percolating a dilute methanolic solution of the salt over the bed and monitoring samples of the eluate for oxidizing capacity with potassium iodide.

In a typical run, 40.1 milligrams of the ammonium salt yields 36.7 mg. of the potassium salt after evaporation of the solvent under a stream of nitrogen at 40C.

Employing a Li or Na ion exchange resin column which is prepared similarly to the above K column, the corresponding salts,

O u (F NhCOCH QOLi and (F N); COCH CON1.

respectively, can be prepared from the ammonium salt.

EXAMPLE 68 A solution of ammonium tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate (0.21 millimole) dissolved in absolute methanol is percolated over a 1 X 5 cm. bed of acidic ion exchange resin, AG 50W-X4, 50100 mesh, to give a high yield of tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetic acid,

upon evaporation of the eluate. The fluorine n.m.r. spectrum of this compound shows a peak at 23.4 (b. The infrared spectrum contains a carbonyl absorption characteristic of acids at 5.7 microns, as well as the broad absorption in the 10.0 to 11.3 micron region due to NF.

Similarly, the above free acid can be obtained conveniently from its alkali metal salts.

EXAMPLE 69 To a solution of about 0.09 millimole of potassium tris(difluoramino)methoxyacetate in 4 ml. of absolute methanol is added about 0.09 millimole of the perchlorate salt, (F N) COCH Cl-1 Nl-1 C10 dissolved in 1 ml. of absolute methanol. A white precipitate identified as potassium perchlorate is formed. After centrifuging the mixture to remove the salt, the clear methanol solution is decanted and evaporated to yield 2- [tris(difluoramino)methoxy]-ethylammonium tris(difluoramino )-methoxyacetate,

m.p. 8388C. The carbonyl absorption appears at 6.0 microns in the infrared spectrum; the NF absorption is complex and is found in the 9.9 to 1 1.2 micron region.

EXAMPLE 70 A stirred mixture of 0.5 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid (95-98 percent) and 0.3 millimole of tris(difluoramino)acetonitrile is heated under autogenous pressure at to C. for 14 hours in a 1.5 ml. borosilicate glass ampoule. .Volatile components of the mixture are removed under vacuum to yield a viscous residue having a vapor pressure of less than 2 mm. Hg at 25C. To the stirred residue cooled to about 0C. is added 1 ml. of water. The resulting mixture is extracted with several 3 ml. portions of diethyl ether and the combined ether extracts are evaporated to yield tris(difluoramino)acetamide,

mp. l03l04C. The amide shows a fluorine n.m.r. peak at about 30.2 d: when dissolved in a mixture of ethanol, tetrahydrofuran and CFCl EXAMPLE 71 mole) of magnesium oxide. The mixture is stirred,

evaporated to dryness in vacuo at 25C., re-dissolved in 2 m1. of methanol, and finally centrifuged to remove excess magnesium oxide. Evaporation of the resulting solution gives a quantitative yield of the magnesium salt,

The carbonyl absorption is found at 6.0 microns in the infrared spectrum.

r m coc inco- M EXAMPLE 72 A ml. borosilicate glass reactor provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene coated magnetic stirring bar and containing 0.3 millimole of sodium azide is evacuated, cooled to l C. and then charged, by means of a vacuum manifold, with 1 ml. of acetonitrile and 0.3 millimole of tris( difluoramino)acetonitrile. The reactor is closed, allowed to warm to room temperature and the mixture is then stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and at 50 to 60C. for 1 hour. The resulting clear solution is evaporated to give sodium 5-tris(difluoramino)methyltetrazole, a white, ether-insoluble, impact-sensitive solid having a fluorine n.m.r. peak at about 3l.8 (b. The infrared spectrum of the compound in mineral oil exhibits a strong, broad absorption in the region between about 10.2 and 11.6 microns, due mainly to the NF bonds of the tris(difluoramino)- methyl moiety.

The sodium 5-tris(difluoramino )methyltetrazole thus prepared is dissolved in 0.15 ml. of water and treated with 0.1 ml. of 37 percent aqueous HCl. The mixture (two liquid phases) is extracted with several;2 ml. portions of diethyl ether.

The ether extracts are combined, dried over anhydrous calcium sulfate and evaporated to yield 5-tris(difluoramino)methyltetrazole, having the formula which is a viscous liquid having a vapor pressure of less than about 2 mm. Hg at C. The fluorine n.m.r. spectrum of the compound exhibits a peak at about 3 l .8 d). The infrared spectrum shows strong absorptions in the region between 10.4 and 11.6 microns.

What is claimed is: l. A compound having the formula R c NF, wherein R is a radical of the group consisting of 5 ZO-C(NF2)3 wherein Z is a radical of the group consisting of alkyl having from I to 12 carbon atoms, cyclohexyl, fluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, difluoromethyl, allyl, 2- propynyl,

40 2,3-di(difluoramino)-propyl, ethoxy, butoxy, acrylyl,

acetyl, butyryl, benzyl, benzoyl,

4. The compound l,2,3-tris(tris-difluoraminomethoxy)propane. 

1. A COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA
 2. A COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA
 3. A compound having the formula Z-NH-C(NF2)3 wherein Z is a radical of the group consisting of p-trifluoromethylphenyl, p-cyanophenyl, H2NCO-, (CH3)2C N-and
 4. THE COMPOUND 1,2,3-TRIS(TRIS-DIFLUORAMAINO-METHOXY)PROPANE. 